Griezmann: It’s hard to say no to Barcelona, but I’m loved at Atletico

Antoine Griezmann admits it was hard to reject a move to Barcelona but insists he feels “love” at Atletico Madrid.

The France star was heavily linked with the LaLiga champions before the World Cup but revealed in June he would be staying at the Wanda Metropolitano through a video message entitled ‘The Decision’.

Griezmann agonised for some time over his future, with Barca reportedly ready to pay his €100millon release clause in order to add him to an attack that already features Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele.

However, the 27-year-old is confident he made the right choice, telling L’Equipe: “It’s like when you get love at home. You’re not going to go anywhere else.

“At the club, they’ve done everything to make me feel good, including efforts to sign important players and create a great team.

“I feel like the base, or the most important piece of the puzzle. That’s what made me stay.

“It’s hard to say no to clubs like Barca but, really, I’m fine here. It’s my home and I want to do something great.”

Griezmann led Atletico Madrid to a Europa League triumph last season before firing France to World Cup glory, with four goals and two assists in his seven appearances.

Atleti then lifted the UEFA Super Cup after a 4-2 win over Real Madrid, putting the forward in a prime position to challenge for the Ballon d’Or, even though he was overlooked for the final three-man shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

While he expects Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to be his main rivals for France Football’s coveted prize, Griezmann is confident 2018 could be his year.

“We know Messi and Cristiano will be there,” he said. “From the last 16 of the Europa League and the quarter-finals of the World Cup, I think I was an important player. I was always present in key moments. So, this year, I have a small part to play.”

Kylian Mbappe is widely considered a future candidate for the Ballon d’Or and Griezmann agrees his France team-mate is a frightening prospect.

“He’s good, very good. He can become very, very strong,” he said of the Paris Saint-Germain forward. “His runs are only towards goal; he has already started to do it early in the season.

“If he is less stuck to the wing and in a position to score, with more and more experience, he can score fifty goals per season.”